Punahou and St. Francis capped the season with state baseball titles

The Buffanblu celebrated after their 7-3 victory gave them the program’s first state championship since 2010.

BRYAN BERKOWITZ / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER

Mililani’s John Richard Suehisa dove into home plate to score the winning run in the Trojans’ win over top-seeded Baldwin in the Division I semifinals.

RODNEY S. YAP / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER

Punahou’s Cody Hirano pumped up his teammates after hitting an RBI double against Mililani in the Division I final of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Baseball Championships on Saturday at Iron Maehara Stadium on Maui.

The confines of historic Ichiro “Iron” Maehara Stadium make just about everyone feel at home.
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The confines of historic Ichiro “Iron” Maehara Stadium make just about everyone feel at home.

Even for the casual high school baseball fan, the concession stand alone was great home cooking, from chicken hekka, consistently selling out batch after batch, to hamburger steak — arguably one of the best in the islands — to Korean fried chicken on championship night.

The 2019 Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Championships had a little of everything, plenty enough that would have left its namesake, a Maui-born baseball and football standout, quite entertained. This was true for the packed house at Iron Maehara through four days and nights of baseball.

Punahou emerged from a late-season slump, losing in the double-elimination Interscholastic League of Honolulu tournament, to win the league crown. Then, the Buffanblu rode their pitching, defense and timely hitting to their first state title since 2010.

From Matt McConnell to Landon Carter to lesser-known Michael Robichaux to closer Tyler Shimabukuro, Punahou wound up using less of its immense pitching depth than expected, perhaps. But the defensive prowess across the field came through again at the most clutch time. Shortstop Jake Tsukada, battling an arm injury, switched with second baseman Kalae Harrison, who turned in some of the smoothest plays on the toughest ground balls. Tsukada hit .444 in the tourney, while Harrison earned all-tournament most outstanding player honors to lead Punahou (25-5-1).

It wasn’t simple domination, however. Punahou needed execution and that timely hitting. Every time the Buffanblu faced a tough situation, someone came through. Third baseman Makana Murashige’s grand slam turned a close semifinal battle into a 10-2 win over a very hot Hilo squad.

“It’s not about me,” the senior said. “If it weren’t for my teammates, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. Landon Carter, he threw a hell of a game. Got to appreciate that guy. Matt McConnell, too, yesterday, oh my god. That’s what’s keeping us in the game. Those guys are lights out. When we have performances like that, it’s easier for us hitters to have some confidence because they shut it down.”

All-Oahu final

Second-seeded Punahou had to wait to see who its championship-game foe would be. It could have been top-seeded defending state champion Baldwin, a team the Buffanblu defeated in preseason at the same venue. Or it could’ve been another scorching-hot squad, Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Mililani.

The fourth-seeded Trojans prevailed, setting up an ILH-OIA final. Punahou, like every team in the tourney, had decisions to make about personnel. Carter and McConnell were done for the tourney, having reached their pitch-count limits.

“Landon and Matt, the seniors, we want to give those guys the ball because it means the most to them. This is the end of the line for them. They’ve had a career here with the guys they love, their brothers that they’ve shared blood, sweat and tears with,” Punahou coach Keenan Sue said. “For them to be able to come through like that when all their guys are counting on them, I’m very happy for them.”

On title-game day, it was Robichaux, who overcame a rocky start to go nearly three innings. Then it was Shimabukuro, who didn’t have all of his best stuff, but found a way as Punahou outlasted Mililani for a 7-3 win.

“Right before the game, I spied Mike in the parking lot. He looked a little nervous. I said, ‘Hey man, you know what, you’re going to do great,’ ” Sue said, “’If you don’t do great, go down firing, right? Don’t be tentative. If you’re going to go down, go down in flames.’ He didn’t have his best stuff, but he gave us three innings.”

Sue couldn’t say enough about his seniors, especially Tsukada.

“We had a lot of ground balls to Jake Tsukada. He’s our normal shortstop, and Jake actually has a pretty severe arm injury, and he’s out there literally shredding his arm. It’s a testament to the leadership and grit that Jake has to sacrifice literally his arm for his brothers. I could not say enough about him and the seniors,” Sue said.

Saints march to title

Meanwhile, at Vidinha Stadium in Lihue, it was St. Francis that captured the Division II crown. That made it an unprecedented spring for the small private school in Manoa Valley. The Saints won softball, boys volleyball and baseball state championships in the span of eight days.

For years, Damien had blocked the door to states, but when St. Francis finally got its chance, it was lights out for the field. St. Francis ousted Konawaena 11-5, OIA champion Radford 11-1 and KIF champ Waimea 10-4.

“In tournament play, the best team doesn’t always make it. Baseball is a finicky game. You can play well, but you need to be a little lucky,” longtime coach Kip Akana said. “All the kids understood the sense of urgency. We’ve always preached that if you play unselfishly and play for each other, good things can happen.”

The Saints finished at No. 9 in the Star-Advertiser Top 10, led by pitcher James Yamasaki. He was selected most outstanding player of the D-II tourney.

With the school closing this spring, the final chapter has been written for the Saints. Other programs, particularly on the neighbor islands, are primed for future success.

Neighbor islands reload

Maui Interscholastic League champion Baldwin loses some key seniors, but is stocked at the younger grade levels.

Maui High is also preparing for a big run with a young squad that flourished with the return of coach Chase Corniel.

Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Hilo is another young team. Competing with Waiakea in various leagues and tournaments in the offseason has turned the natural rivalry between the two Hilo town programs into something special.

“Playing and training year-round, this is a way of life for us,” senior pitcher Ocean Gabonia said.

Waiakea’s trio of Stone Miyao, Kalai Rosario and Safea Mauai left quite the impact at Iron Maehara Stadium. At the top of the lineup, the three sluggers batted a combined 14-for-24 (.583). Miyao, a senior right fielder, hit .750 with four runs, two RBIs, a triple and a double in just over two games.

Rosario, a junior center fielder, hit .556 with two home runs, a double and four RBIs and four runs scored. He also displayed a cannon arm with a picture-perfect assist from center field to home plate to nab a potential run scorer.

Mauai batted .429 with three RBIs and two runs, plus a double. With Rosario and Mauai returning next season, there is much optimism for the Warriors.